# US 11,079,130 B2 · Weather responsive smart ventilation system using multiple optimization parameters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,130 B2 - Document ID: US11079130B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/571,986 - Filed: 2019-09-16 - Published: 2020-03-19 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-14 - Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Danny Parker; Eric Martin; Karen Fenaughty; David A. Chasar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079130B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 7/007: with forced flow (using ducting systems F24F7/06) - F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data - F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode - F24F 11/77: by controlling the speed of ventilators - F24F 13/08: Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates (F24F7/013, F24F13/06 take precedence) - G05B 13/042: {in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance} - F24F 2011/0002: {for admittance of outside air} - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2110/12: of the outside air - F24F 2110/20: Humidity - F24F 2110/22: of the outside air - F24F 2120/10: Occupancy - F24F 2130/10: Weather information or forecasts - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A smart ventilation system which uses outdoor temperature and moisture to optimize control of the system. The main principle is to shift ventilation from time periods that have large indoor-outdoor temperature and moisture differences to periods when these differences are smaller, and their energy and comfort impacts are expected to be less. Fan flow rates are reduced when the outside temperature and moisture falls outside of optimum levels, yet overall air exchange is maintained to ensure chronic and acute exposure to pollutants remains relative to best practice. Online weather and smart thermostat data can be used as control inputs, so no specific measurement devices are needed to control ventilation fans. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of optimizing ventilation flow rates, comprising: measuring, for each hour of a twenty-three consecutive hour period, a numerical value corresponding to a difference in an outdoor temperature and an indoor temperature over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; measuring, for each hour of the twenty-three consecutive hour period, a numerical value corresponding to a difference in an outdoor moisture level and an indoor moisture level over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; calculating an average residual sum of squares value over the twenty-three consecutive hour period by calculating, for each hour of the twenty-three consecutive hour period, a residual sum of squares value based on the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures for each hour and the difference between indoor and outdoor moisture levels for each hour and averaging the residual sum of squares values; measuring, for an instantaneous hour-long period subsequent to the twenty-three consecutive hour period, an instantaneous residual sum of squares value based on a difference between an instantaneous indoor and outdoor temperature level and an instantaneous indoor and outdoor moisture level, and optimizing a ventilation flow rate by calculating a time-related fan flow equal to a target fan flow multiplied by a ratio of the average residual sum of squares value to the instantaneous residual sum of squares value, wherein, based on a determination that the instantaneous residual sum of squares value is greater than the average residual sum of squares value, the ventilation flow rate is optimized by slowing the time-related fan flow until a subsequent hour-long time period that is associated with a second instantaneous residual sum of squares value that is less than the average residual sum of squares value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the target fan flow is a cooling period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level becomes greater than a cooling threshold temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the target fan flow is a heating period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level becomes less than a heating threshold temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the target fan flow is a floating period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level resides between a heating threshold temperature and a cooling threshold temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of identifying whether an occupant is currently inside a building subject to an air conditioning system employing the steps of optimizing ventilation flow rates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of assigning a 2:1 weight between the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures and the difference between indoor and outdoor moisture levels, such that the average residual sum of squares value is time-weighted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of measuring the outdoor temperature in an environment surrounding a building subject to an air conditioning system employing the steps of optimizing ventilation flow rates over the predetermined time period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of measuring the outdoor moisture level in an environment surrounding a building subject to an air conditioning system employing the steps of optimizing ventilation flow rates over the twenty-three consecutive hour period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of setting the target fan flow to zero based on a determination that the instantaneous outdoor temperature is greater than 30° C. ### Claim 10 A method of optimizing ventilation flow rates, comprising: measuring, for each hour of a twenty-three consecutive hour period, a temperature difference by: measuring an indoor temperature in a building employing the steps of optimizing ventilation flow rates over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; providing an average outdoor temperature in an environment surrounding the building over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; and calculating a difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature; measuring, for each hour of the twenty-three consecutive hour period, a moisture level difference by: measuring an indoor moisture level in the building over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; providing an average outdoor moisture level in the environment surrounding the building over the twenty-three consecutive hour period; and calculating a difference between the indoor moisture level and the outdoor moisture level; calculating an average residual sum of squares value over the twenty-three consecutive hour period by calculating for each hour of the twenty-three consecutive hour period, a residual sum of squares value based on the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures for each hour and the difference between indoor and outdoor moisture levels for each hour, and averaging the residual sum of squares values; measuring, for an instantaneous hour-long period subsequent to the twenty-three consecutive hour period, an instantaneous residual sum of squares value based on a difference between an instantaneous indoor and outdoor temperature level and an instantaneous indoor and outdoor moisture level; and optimizing a ventilation flow rate by calculating a time-related fan flow equal to a target fan flow multiplied by a ratio of the average residual sum of squares value to the instantaneous residual sum of squares value, wherein, based on a determination that the instantaneous residual sum of squares value is greater than the average residual sum of squares value, the ventilation flow rate is optimized by slowing the time-related fan flow until a subsequent hour-long time period that is associated with a second instantaneous residual sum of squares value that is less than the average residual sum of squares value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the target fan flow is a cooling period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level becomes greater than a cooling threshold temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the target fan flow is a heating period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level becomes less than a heating threshold temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the target fan flow is a floating period target fan flow that is triggered when the instantaneous outdoor temperature level resides between a heating threshold temperature and a cooling threshold temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of identifying whether an occupant is currently inside a building subject to an air conditioning system employing the steps of optimizing ventilation flow rates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of assigning a 2:1 weight between the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures and the difference between indoor and outdoor moisture levels, such that the average residual sum of squares value is time-weighted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of setting the target fan flow to zero based on a determination that the instantaneous outdoor temperature is greater than −30° C.